DHAKA – The government today said that any financial transaction through brokers or other intermediaries to obtain the Family Card is illegal. The Family Card is a priority programme of the present government and it is firmly committed to implementing the initiative. The information was disclosed in a press release of the Ministry of Social Welfare, a PID handout said today.

According to the release, a Family Card will be issued in the name of the female head of every family, irrespective of religion, caste or ethnicity. The card will be distributed free of cost under government arrangements.

The government urged people not to make any payment to middlemen or through any other channel for receiving the card. It also requested all to inform law enforcement agencies if anyone is found involved in such illegal activities.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to take initiatives, involving private entrepreneurs, to reopen sick and closed industrial establishments in the country. “The Prime Minister has directed the ministries concerned to take steps to reopen the sick and closed industrial institutions,” Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said today.

However, he said, how private entrepreneurs will be involved in the initiative and what the nature of ownership or partnership will be have not yet been finalized. Reopening sick and closed industrial establishments to create employment was one of the BNP’s election pledges.

According to the Prime Minister’s directive, sick and closed jute mills and sugar mills will be reopened, retaining former workers in their jobs and creating new employment opportunities there. As per the information placed before the parliament in June 2024 during the previous Awami League government, the number of closed industrial institutions under the Ministry of Industries was 397 at that time.

Of these, 382 sick/closed industries were under Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), five under BCIC, six sugar mills under BSFIC and four factories under BSEC. Over the past two years, the number has increased further. However, no updated statistics have been published by the government.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed to create new jobs”.

He also asked to take initiatives to reopen closed and sick industrial factories, the BIDA chief said, adding, in this regard, a committee led by the Ministry of Industries has already started working.

DHAKA – The government has formed the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as its chairperson. The committee was constituted through a gazette notification issued today. The notification was signed by Md. Humayun Kabir, Additional Secretary (Committee and Economic Affairs) of the Cabinet Division.

According to the notification, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will serve as Chairperson of the ECNEC while Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, has been appointed as its Alternate Chairperson.

Other members of the committee are Finance and Planning Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Industries, Commerce, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain and Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam.

Supporting officials will include the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary of the Finance Division, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, Secretary of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), members of the Planning Commission under the Planning Division, and secretaries of the relevant ministries and divisions. The notification stated that the term “Secretary” in this context will also include Senior Secretaries.

ECNEC will consider and approve all Development Project Proposals (DPPs), Technical Assistance Project Proposals (TAPPs), and Technical Project Proposals (TPPs). The committee will also consider and approve recommendations of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) for projects involving total investment costs exceeding Tk 50 crore in the public sector. It will review the implementation progress of development projects.

In addition, the committee will examine proposals from private initiatives, joint ventures, and participatory investment companies. ECNEC will monitor the country’s economic situation, review overall economic activities and related policy matters, and consider and approve the annual targets for foreign assistance. It will also review progress in achieving those targets.

The notification said the committee will meet as necessary, and the Planning Division will provide secretarial support. The order takes immediate effect. It also stated that the previous notification issued by the Cabinet Division on August 20, 2024, in this regard will be considered as cancelled.

DHAKA – Dhaka and Washington expressed optimism that Bangladesh–United States relations will reach new heights in the coming years through enhanced collaboration across all sectors, reaffirming their commitment to deepen the longstanding bilateral partnership. It was reflected when The U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka, Brent Christensen, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry today, said a foreign ministry press release.

During the meeting, the two sides underscored the enduring partnership between Bangladesh and the United States, founded on mutual respect, shared democratic values and a common commitment to peace and development.

They reviewed key areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, defence and security, development partnership, immigration and people-to-people exchanges. The upcoming visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Paul Kapur to Bangladesh in early March also featured in the discussion, reflecting the continued high-level engagement between the two countries.

The Rohingya issue was discussed at length. The foreign minister conveyed Bangladesh’s appreciation for continued U.S. humanitarian assistance and sought sustained political support for the safe and sustainable repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Prior to the meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Christensen also paid a maiden courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.

DHAKA – The Election Commission (EC) has transferred 112 officials from its secretariat and subordinate offices to various upazila and thana-level postings across the country. An official order in this regard was issued today, signed by Assistant Secretary Mohammad Shahidur Rahman.

According to the order, the officials from the EC Secretariat and its field-level offices have been transferred and posted to their designated stations as specified beside their names. The postings will remain effective until further notice. The order also states that the transferred officials must be released from their current workplaces by March 1. Failing that, they will be deemed released automatically from that date.

DHAKA – President Mohammad Shahabuddin today summoned first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on March 12. “The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will be held at 11am on March 12 at the Parliament Complex at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka,” said an official release of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.

The President, also the head of the state, convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution, the release said. Before commencing the House proceedings on the day, the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee is likely to hold a meeting to fix the duration and agendas of the session.

DHAKA – Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit China and conveyed warm congratulations and greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The Chinese envoy extended the invitation when he paid a call on the premier at his Cabinet Division office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here at 12.30pm today.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir disclosed this while briefing the journalists at the Secretariat after the meeting. Replying to a question, he said that the tour schedule was not discussed during the meeting.

“The Prime Minister currently has many important domestic priority tasks. When he will begins his foreign tour after completing the domestic affairs, this invitation from China will be considered with great importance,” Humayun added.

The foreign affairs adviser said that the Chinese government has recognized the huge mandate that newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman got with a two-thirds majority. The Chinese Ambassador mainly came to congratulate the new government formed through the spontaneous participation of the people of Bangladesh in the election, Humayun added.

Stating that “the relationship between Bangladesh and China is historical”, he said, “This strong relationship began during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Over the years, China has been a very important and strong development partner of Bangladesh”.

The development work that has taken place between Bangladesh and China in recent years, Humayun said, the current government wants to move it further forward. Noting that today’s meeting between the Prime Minister and Chinese Ambassador was just a courtesy call, he said there was no discussion on any specific issues.

But the both sides made courteous commitments on how to take bilateral relations to a new height and how to further strengthen development activities while protecting the interests of the people of both countries, Humayun added.

The government has allocated portfolios to eight advisers appointed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the status of minister and state minister. Officials said the responsibilities were assigned through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday.

According to the notification, among the five advisers holding the status of minister, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed have been appointed as Political Advisers. Besides, Md Ismail Zabiyullah has been given charge of the Ministry of Public Administration, while Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir will oversee the Ministry of Finance.

Among the advisers holding the status of state minister, Brig Gen (retd) Shamsul Islam has been assigned the Ministry of Defence. Mahdi Amin has been entrusted with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Meanwhile, Rehan Asif Asad has been given charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Earlier, 10 advisers were appointed on Tuesday.

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has paid rich tributes to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city on the occasion of great Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day. Party Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman led his party’s delegation to lay the wreath in memory of the language heroes.

Besides, the premier along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman also placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of their family. Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid homage to the martyrs as the head of the government.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin today paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement marking the Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day. The Head of the State paid homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital at one minute past midnight tonight.

President Shahabuddin reached the Central Shaheed Minar four minutes before the zero hour. On his arrival at the Central Shaheed Minar, the President was received by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan.

The President proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar in slow pace while playing the historic immortal song on the Amar Ekushey “Amar Vaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February . . . Ami Ki Vulitey Pari ?” The President stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the Language Heroes.